What stands out worked out from the figures below

Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Upton	Sterling
People
Population	8,189Highest	8,183Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA
	Sterling and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Upton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Sterling and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Sterling and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA	$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA
	Upton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average	$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA
	Upton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA	$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA
	Sterling and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,376Highest 40% above MA	$6,757Lowest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8%	46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Upton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%	6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1980Lowest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 22% above MA	34 minLowest 18% above MA
Work from home	22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Upton and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#46 of 282 in MA	#135 of 282 in MA
School district	Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton	Wachusett
High school in town	Blackstone Valley	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.